Is this wrong ?

Question

My tutor says this is illiterate writing because I use th with date. He said nobody in their right mind writes like this and it's totally unacceptable under any circumstances---

On September 24th, 2013, blah..blah...blah

Am I stupid and wrong for doing this?

V S Rao · Accepted Answer

Hi MFG,

MFGOn September 24th, 2013,

In medical documents, we write the day as " September 24, 2013.
Regards,
Sri

MFG · Answer

Thank you but other than medical documents, is th wrong?

V S Rao · Answer

MFGThank you but other than medical documents, is th wrong?

I am not sure about the usage of "th", but is very much in use in the Indian sub-continent. The other available alternative is:
1. 24/09/2013 (Date/Month/Year)
2. 09/24/2013 (Month/Date/Year)

Let us see some more opinions on your question by other members in Eforums.
Regards,
Sri

MFG · Answer

Thank you kindly sir.

Jaguartree · Answer

"Do not use the ordinal (th, st, rd, nd) form of numbers when writing the complete date: January 15 is the date for the examination. However, you may use the ordinal suffixes if you use only the day: The 15th is the date for the examination". ........ well, Ive just learned something new, as I had to search for the answer.

MFG · Answer

I just searched and found this. The website said it came from a Cambridge grammar manaul: it said they were all correct.

March 10, 1990
March 10th, 1990
10 March 1990
10th March 1990
the 10th of March, 1990
March the 10th, 1990

Grammarfreak · Answer

Here is my two cents.

MFGMy tutor says this is illiterate writing because I use th with date. He said nobody in their right mind writes like this and it's totally unacceptable under any circumstances---Am I stupid and wrong for doing this?

I don't know your tutor's background but I totally disagree with his comments (assuming he is a guy) No; I don't think you are wrong. Although it is not common, the small "th" we occasionally see on the right corner of a date isn't wrong. I remember reading, and practiced writing the date with "th" a long time ago, and some folks from the older generation may still do it. I know, I know, many Americans and grammar websites denounce ( or simply call it wrong) the use of "th". Is there a remote chance that this is the "Brit" vs " the Yanks" phenomenon ? Take a look at the date on this post by Ruth Margolis of BBCwww.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/about/?

BBC America

Ruth Margolis, Contributor Ruth is a British freelance journalist who recently swapped east London for Brooklyn. Read bio and posts. James Bartlett, Contributor

http://www.bbcamerica.com/mind-the-gap/2012/05/15/10-things-americans-do-that-drive-brits-nuts/

10 Things Americans Do That Drive Brits Nuts

By Ruth Margolis | Posted on May 15th, 2012

MFG · Answer

Thank You

KJinCali79 · Answer

MFGMy tutor says this is illiterate writing because I use th with date. He said nobody in their right mind writes like this and it's totally unacceptable under any circumstances---On September 24th, 2013, blah..blah...blahAm I stupid and wrong for doing this?

In AmE, it would be considered incorrect.

Acceptable options are:
On September 24, 2013...
On the 24th of September, 2013...

Keep in mind that September 24 the number "24" is like the label/name of that day...That day is September 24. When you say "24th" you are staying that day is 24th in order of days in September. This is why you need "the" and "of" because with ordinals because you are merely stating the position/order, not the actual day itself. Obviously, the meaning is exactly the same, but the grammar is different and that is why your sentence was wrong.

The wedding will be held on the first of June.
The wedding will be held on June 1.

GPY · Answer

I always feel worryingly uncertain in my own mind about which format permutations are allowed and which are preferable. In British English, I believe that both "September 24th" and "24th September" are acceptable, though perhaps losing out in popularity to "September 24" and "24 September". "September 24" feels slightly American to me. The prononuciations "twenty-four September" and "September twenty-four" are not used in Britain,

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